A big reason for that is that their tight end depth doesn’t necessarily look better than a year ago.
Third-round pick Eli Raridon looks the part. He’s tall and athletic. People should be reminded, however, that it’s rare to see a rookie tight end make an impact. The rookie caught 14 passes from Maye this summer. Can Raridon replace Austin Hooper? That’s the hope. The third tight end situation is a mess. The team wanted it to be Julian Hill, but he suffered a season-ending injury in minicamp. It looked like Tanner Arkin would win this battle, but he’s faded down the stretch. Will the Patriots keep Jack Westover instead? This might be an area they look for help in on the waiver wire.
Best way to describe Bell’s physique is he’s thick. I mean, he’s just built big. And, yeah, after the years with Hill and Waddle, it’s nice to have some size at wide receiver. DeVante Parker did bring good size to the position, though he has his issues staying healthy.
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